Deputies: Teen who stabbed father wondered ‘what it would be like to take a life'

By Maru I. OpabolaStaff writer

Published: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 12:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 12:26 p.m.

An 18-year old Gainesville man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after deputies said he stabbed his 54-year-old father in the chest with a pocketknife because he wondered what it would be like to kill a person.

Bamboo Flute Blanchard was in his family home in the 2000 block of Southeast 49th Drive in Gainesville on Tuesday evening when, without warning, he attacked his father, who had been lying down in his bedroom, according to a report released by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's deputies and Alachua County Fire Rescue responded to the scene of the stabbing, where they reported learning that Bamboo's younger brother had been using the knife for another purpose before laying it down on his bed. Blanchard then picked up the knife and gazed at it while stating, "I wonder what it would be like to take a life," deputies reported.

Blanchard then rubbed the knife on his chest near his heart and said he didn't think he could "handle it," the report said.

Blanchard then walked to his father's bedroom while being trailed by his younger brother and suddenly stabbed his father in the chest, deputies reported.

Alachua County Fire Rescue transported the elder Blanchard to UF Health Shands Hospital, where he told law enforcement he initially thought his son had punched him in the chest but looked down and saw he had been stabbed, according to the report. The father then refused to give a sworn written statement regarding the events.

Bamboo Blanchard also refused to speak to deputies and only grunted during his interview, deputies said.

There were at least two other children in the home during the stabbing, and deputies reported that they were left at the scene in the care of their eldest brother.

<p>An 18-year old Gainesville man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after deputies said he stabbed his 54-year-old father in the chest with a pocketknife because he wondered what it would be like to kill a person.</p><p>Bamboo Flute Blanchard was in his family home in the 2000 block of Southeast 49th Drive in Gainesville on Tuesday evening when, without warning, he attacked his father, who had been lying down in his bedroom, according to a report released by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>Sheriff's deputies and Alachua County Fire Rescue responded to the scene of the stabbing, where they reported learning that Bamboo's younger brother had been using the knife for another purpose before laying it down on his bed. Blanchard then picked up the knife and gazed at it while stating, "I wonder what it would be like to take a life," deputies reported.</p><p>Blanchard then rubbed the knife on his chest near his heart and said he didn't think he could "handle it," the report said.</p><p>Blanchard then walked to his father's bedroom while being trailed by his younger brother and suddenly stabbed his father in the chest, deputies reported.</p><p>Alachua County Fire Rescue transported the elder Blanchard to UF Health Shands Hospital, where he told law enforcement he initially thought his son had punched him in the chest but looked down and saw he had been stabbed, according to the report. The father then refused to give a sworn written statement regarding the events.</p><p>Bamboo Blanchard also refused to speak to deputies and only grunted during his interview, deputies said.</p><p>There were at least two other children in the home during the stabbing, and deputies reported that they were left at the scene in the care of their eldest brother.</p>